Apparatus for handling explosives



April 6, 1943. T. w. ROCHESTER ETAL. ,3

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EXPLOSIVES Filed June 9, 1942 5: Sheets-Sheet 1April 1.943- T. w. ROCHESTER ETVAL 2,315,800

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EXPLOSIVES Filed June 9, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2THaMAe m Baa/557x 23 bYMA/V 14 aw/Pym, JOHN 7-. ans/14x 2,

A 1943; T. w. ROCHESTER EIAL 2,315,300

APPARKTUS FOR HANDLING EXPLOSIVES Filed Jun 9, 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 THOMAS MFOCA/-S TE 1 YM/I/V m BARRON April 6, 1943.

12 w. ROCHESTER ETAL 2,315,800 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING EXPLOSIVES FiledJune 9, 1942 5 Shets-Sheet s Patented Apr. 6, 1943 artisan APPARATUS FORHANDLING EHLOSIVES Thomas W. Rochester, Tuckahoe, Hyman W. Barron,Laureltcn, and John T. Gibala', Little Neck, N. Y.

Application June 9,1942, Serial No. 446,394

' 17 Claims. (01. 109-1) door of the containers to about the middle oftheinterior of the inner container. More specifically, the innercontainer of the present invention is in the form of a cylindersupported inside and spaced from the walls of the outer container, thedescribed movable carriage moving in a general direction lengthwise ofthis inner cylinder.

Both containers, as in the earlier application, are made of interlacedor intermeshed metallic cables forming gas permeable walls which allowthe gases of the explosion to escape, but which retain fragmentsresulting from the explosion, thereby preventing damage to persons orproperty in the vicinity.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly, in'section, showing the framework ofthe apparatus;

Fig. 5 is an end view looking from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 8-45 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section on line 88 of Fig. 7. I

Referring now to these drawings, in which similar reference charactersindicate similar parts, the apparatus consists of a wheeled chassiscomprising longitudinal supporting beams 2 which in J are the mainlongitudinal supporting beams 6,

Since the gases from an explosion expand in all directions, it isimportant that the explosive be placed at about the middle of the innercontainer and to this end the inner chamber or container is providedwith a guideway, preferably inclined, from a door at one end of thechamber to about the center thereof, the bomb being placed on a carriagewhich travels from the door, where the bomb is placed on the carriage,to about the center of the inner chamber. This carriageis controlled bya cable or chain which can be manipulated from the outside,

Means of entrance, such as a double door, may be provided at one end ofboth the outer and inner chambers, whereby the bomb may be placed on thecarriage and the door'promptly closed. This door is also gas permeableand is composed essentially of interwoven metallic cables.

In the present invention, plate-like ribs of the these beams 6 havingupper and lower horizontal flanges. End frame members 8 in the form ofan inverted U, and made of heavy iron pipe, have their lower endssecured to the beams 6. A ridge plate i0, set in a vertical plane, issecured at its ends to the upper central part of the end frame members8. The frame for the ends comprises a plurality of heavy verticalplate-like ribs I2, having their inner edges i3 chamfered, and aresecured at their upper ends to the pipe 8 and at their lower ends toL-shaped transverse supporting beams M, the ends of the beams M beingwelded or otherwise secured to the longitudinal beams 6. I

Transverse bars l6 have one end of each welded to a vertical rib l2,while their other ends are coiled around the pipes 8, as at i8. I

Diagonal struts 20 may be positioned, as shown, between the ridge platel0 and the pipe 8, while other diagonal struts 22, 24 may be providedbetween the pipes 8, vertical ribs l2 and the upper flange of beam 6.

Plate-like ribs 26 are set edgewise, and at different angles, as shownparticularly in Fig. 4, with respect to gases travelling radially fromthe center of the apparatus. The inner-edges 21 of these ribs arechamfered, the better to "cut through the radially expanding gases. Theupper ends of these ribs 26 are welded or otherwise secured to the ridgeplate l0, while their lower endsare welded or otherwise secured to thetop flange of the beam 6. The ribs 26 are further braced and held inposition by horizontal rods 28, which pass through suitable apertures inthe ribs and which are welded thereto atv such apertures. The rods 28are secured to the end pipes 8 bywelding or by coiling around the pipes,or both, as shown at 29.

Supported on the framework described is an :vention, will now bedescribed.

outer canopy 3t composed of interwoven or inter-- plate 36, the plates34 and being held in gripping position by the screw bolts 38'.

The enclosure is completed by covering the. ends with closures 30a and30b formed of interwoven metallic cables, whereby they are'gaspermeable. These are secured to frame members 8 in any suitable way, asby cables whipped around frame members 8.

As shown in Fig. 5, a doorway is provided at one end of the describedenclosure. Bositioned between two of the central vertical ribs I2, is ahorizontal plate 40, having its inner edge 4! chamfered, serving as theupper jamb for the door, and a lower plate" having its inneredge 43chamfered, serving as the lower jamb for the door. The door itself is asimple, rectangular, box-like frame composed of vertical plates, andcross plates 46, provided with a grillwork of iron rods for supporting aplurality of layers of intermeshed or interlaced metallic cables 41 sothat the door-is gas permeable. The door is provided with apertured lugs48, the apertures of which register with the apertures in similarapertured lugs 50 carried by vertical ribs I2, cross. bars 52 passingthrough said apertures serving to hold the door in closed position.Either rod 52 may serve as a hinge and preferably the upper rod 52serves that purpose. In order to raise the door, there is provided apulley block 55, supported on a bracket 55, and an operating cable 56,as shown in Fig. l. The inner cylindrical gas permeable chamber,-

clamps such lower edge against the vertical flange of transverse beaml4.

At the other end of the apparatus, and as shown in Figure 4, theenclosure of canopy is completed by a front portion 30b, the lower edgeof which is held in place by a similar clamp and lower door Jambs 4B and42 already described, and are secured to such jambs by welding.

femal machine be placed or carried at substantiaily the center of theinner chamber 60. For

this purpose there is provided a carriage which moves from a point nearthe door to about the middle of the inner chamber. the apparatuscomprises supporting standards I2, resting on angle irons I4 welded inplace on the inside of the cylinder. 60. These standards support aninclined guideway comprising upper and lower rails 14 and I6 bracedapart by end struts 18. An openwork explosive-carrying platior'miill issuspended by arms 82 from the axles of grooved wheels 84, the grooves ofwhich engage with the guide rails 74 and 18. In order to move thecarriage up and down its guideway the axles of the pulleys are connectedby rod 88, the forward ends of these rods terminating in eyes 88 towhich is connected a chain 9& which passes through suitable holes in theends of the inner and outer chambers over a pulley wheel 92 and around awinding drum 83.

In the event of an explosion, the carriage 80 and its guideway'woudprobably be destroyed,

which is an important feature of the present in- Referring moreparticularly to Figures 4, {S and 6, this cylindrical inner chamber,indicated generally at 80, is also formed of interlaced or interwovenmetallic cables so as to be gas permeable. This cylinder 80 is supportedby the ribs 28, being secured to the inner edges of the ribs by strongmetallic rods 82 which pass through the mesh of both the outer canopy 30and the cylinder 60, these rods being placed so as, to pass around aparticular rib 2B, and reversely bent over opposite sides of theribspthereby anchoring both the canopy 30 and cylinder 8 0 to the. ribs26.

The ends of the inner chamber or cylinder 80 are formed by circular gaspermeable mats '4 formed of interlaced printer-woven metallic cables,these end elements being held in place by securing them to vertical ribsi2 and securedto such ribs by flexible rods 88 which pass through themeshof the end memberfil and are reversely bent to pass around the ribsl2. Where the side wall and end wall 154 meet, ,as-at 85, such meetingedges arelaced together by whipping a wire cable around such meetingedges. The

lower portion of the inner chamber. is positioned above the floor mat 32as shown in Figures 5 and6.

Referring-to Figure 4, one end, for example the right hand end 30a ofthe canopy 30, formed of even if made of metal, and so these parts maybe made of wood, for easier and less expensive replacement.

In operation, the infernal machine, bomb or explosive, indicatedforexample at 9 4, is placed on the carriage as soon as possible after ithas been discovered, the door is closed and se-. cured and the chainpulled so that the explosive is moved to and held at about the middle ofthe inner chamber, as shown at 84', Figure 4.

The entire apparatus is portable, being provided with wheels 96, as'partof a motor truck or as a trailer, so that it may be moved away. to anisolated spot where a possible explosion would result in a minimum ofdamage to persons and property in the vicinity. A protecting shield 9|may be provided for the driver.

While the invention is not limited to any particular type of cable. wirecables of about in diameter, with a wire rope center, are preferred.These cables are inherently strong and flexible and impart strength,-gaspermeability, the ability to catch and retain fragments, andflexibility, to the walls of the outer and inner enclosures. c

There has thus been provided a portable apparatus composed of an outercanopy. an inner cylindrical chamber, and end elements forming outer andinner gas permeable spaced apart en,-

"closures-to which access may be had by a gas interlaced orinterwovenmetallic cables so as to be gas permeable, is'suitably secured tothefframe T member 8, the lower edge being secured by a "clampingplatefifi which by means of bolts 10 permeable door; the explosive isplaced on a movable carriage just inside the door and the explosivemoved to and held at about the center of the inner cylindricalenclosure, whereby the explosive is spaced from the walls, bottom andends, of both enclosures and whereby the gases It is important that theexplosive, bomb or in- This portion of aeraeoo from the explosion mayexpand radially and freely in every direction. As the gases expandradially, the pressure and temperature decrease and the gases escapereadily through the gas permeable walls. explosion are retained by thegas permeable walls.

While we have described our invention in some detail, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the exact details shown,but may I be carried out in other ways.

thereof, and a carriage movable on said guideway, N

for carrying the explosive to the middle of the chamber.

Any fragments resulting from the 3. A safety apparatus for handlingexplosives generally, and particularly bombs of the fragnentation type,comprising a substantially cylindrical gas permeable chamber, includinga doorin one end thereof, the chamber and door "consisting essentiallyof heavy, interlaced metallic cables, an inclined guideway in thechamber extending from said door to substantially the middle of thechamber, and a carriage movable on said guideway, for carrying theexplosive to the middle of the chamber.

4. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, andparticularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a gas permeablechamber of heavy interlaced metallic cables.- a

guideway in said chamber, a carriage movable on said guideway, forcarrying the explosive to substantially the center of said chamber, andmeans, exterior of the chamber, for operating said carriage.

5. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, andparticularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a substantiallycylindrical gas permeable chamber, including a door in one end thereof,the chamber and door consistingessentiallyof heavy, interlaced metallic.

cables, an inclined guideway in the chamber extending from said door tosubstantially the midfspaced from the walls thereof.

'7. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, andparticularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a gas permeableouter canopy, a substantially cylindrical, gas permeable inner chambermounted within the canopy and spaced from the walls thereof, the wallsof said &

canopy and chamber consisting essentially of heavy interlaced metalliccables, a guideway in the inner chamber, and a carriage movable on theguideway, for carrying the explosive to about I the middle of the innerchamber.

8. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, andparticularly bombs of the fragmentation type,- comprising a gaspermeable outer canopy, a substantially cylindrical, gas permeable innerchamber mounted within th canopy and spaced from the walls thereof, thewallsof said 'canopy and chamber consisting essentially of heavyinterlaced metallic cables, door means for giving access to both thecanopy and inner chamber, an inclined guideway in the inner chamber,having one end adjacent said door, and a carriage movable on theguideway for carrying the explosive to about the middle of the innerchamber.

9. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, andparticularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a framework,including plate ribs, defining an enclosure, said plate ribs beingsetedgewise with respect to the center of the enclosure, a gas permeablecanopy of interlaced metallic cables secured to the outer edges of saidplate ribs, a gas permeable mat of interlaced metallic cables secured tothe inner,

edges of the plate ribs, in spaced relation with respect'to the canopy,and defining an inner chamber, and means for positioning an explosive insaid inner chamber.

10. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, andparticularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a. framework,in .cluding plate ribs, defining an enclosurersaid plate ribs being setedgewise at different angles so as to be edgewise with respect to gasestravelling radially from the middle of the enclosure. a gas permeablecanopy of interwoven metallic cables secured to the outer edges of saidplate ribs, a gas permeable mat of interwoven metallic cables secured tothe inner edges of said plate ribs, in spaced relation with respect tothe canopy and defining an inner chamber, and a gas mrmeable floor matof interwoven metallic cables.

11. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, andparticularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a framework,including plate-ribs, defining an enclosure, said plate ribs being setedgewise with respect to the center of the enclosure, a gas permeablecanopy of interlaced metallic cables secured to the outer edges of saidplate ribs, 2. gas permeable mat of interlaced metallic cables securedto the inner edges of the plate ribs, in spaced relation with tiallycylindrical inner chamber, and means for positioning an explosive insaid inner chamber.

12. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, andparticularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a framework,including plate ribs, defining an enclosure, said plate ribs being setedgewise at different angles so as to be edgewise with respect to gasestravelling radially from the middle of the enclosure, a gas permeablecanopy of interwoven metallic cables secured to the outer edges of saidplate ribs, a gas permeable mat of interwoven metallic cables secured tothe inner edges of said plate ;ribs, in spacedrelation with respect tothe canopy and defining a substantially cylindrical inner chamber, andmeans for positioning an explosive in the inner chamber, spaced from thewalls thereof.

13. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally, andparticularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a framework,including plate ribs, defining an enclosure, said plate ribs being setedgewise at different angles so as to be edgewise with respect to gasestravelling radially from the middle of the enclosure, a gas permeablecanopy of interwoven metallic cables secured to the outer edges of saidplate ribs, a gas permeable mat of interwoven metallic cables secured tothe inner edges of said plate ribs, in spaced relation with respect tothe canopy and defining a substantially cylindrical inner chamber, aguideway in the inner chamber, and a carriage movable 0n the guideway,for'positioning an explosive at about the middle of the inner chamber.

14. A safety apparatus for handling explosivesg'enerally, andparticularly bombs of the fragmentation type, comprising a framework,including plate,ribs, defining an enclosure, said plate ribs being setedgewise with respect to gases travelling radially from the middle ofthe generallyyand particularly bombs of the frag-- mentation, typcomprising a framework, including plate ribs, defining an enclosure,said plate ribs being set edgewise with respect to gases travellingradially from the middle of the enclosure, an outer gas permeable canopyof aameoo framework, a gas permeable outer canopy com-.

prising side and end walls and a floor, carried by said framework, asubstantially cylindrical,

gas permeable inner chamber carried by said framework, within the outercanopy and spaced from'the walls and the floor thereon-the walls of saidouter. canopy and inner chamber consisting essentially of heavyinterlaced metallic cables, and means for supporting an explosive insaid inner chamber.

1'7. A safety apparatus for handling explosives generally andparticularly bombs oi the fragmentation type, comprising a framework,including ribs, defining an enclosure, a gas permeable canopy ofinterlaced metallic cables, se-. cured to said ribs, a gas permeableinner cylindricalenclosure of interlaced metallic cables carried by saidribs, and spaced inwardly from the walls of the canopy, the canopy andinner enclosure being formed of heavy intermeshed metallic cables whichimpart their inherent flexibility to the canopy and to the innerenclosure, and means for positioning an explosive in the innerenclosure.

THOMAS W. ROCHESTER HYMAN W. BARRON.

JOHN T. GmALA.

